Dicamba Aqueous Composition Drift Control via Alkoxylate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drift control agents for pesticides, particularly dicamba, face challenges in effectively reducing wind drift and off-target movement, requiring improved formulations that are easy to prepare and handle, while maintaining pesticidal activity and minimizing environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous composition comprising dicamba and a fatty alcohol alkoxylate drift control agent, specifically an alkoxylate of the formula (I), is used to reduce wind drift, with the alkoxylate being easily prepared from industrially available compounds and incorporated in a tank mix to enhance adhesion and penetration of pesticides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If drift control agents are used to reduce wind drift and off-target movement of pesticides, then spray drift control is improved, but the complexity of formulation and handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drift control agent (alkoxylate) directly into the aqueous pesticide composition containing dicamba, creating an integrated formulation. This merging eliminates the need for separate drift control additives and simplifies handling while maintaining effective drift control.
Solution Approach 2:
The alkoxylate drift control agent serves multiple functions: it reduces spray drift and off-target movement, enhances adhesion to plant surfaces, and improves penetration of the pesticide. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate additives, simplifying the overall formulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex drift control agents are used to improve spray drift control, then off-target movement is reduced, but ease of manufacture and handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies particular parameters for the alkoxylate drift control agent, including molecular weight range (20-200 kDa) and hydrophobicity characteristics, to optimize both drift control performance and manufacturability. These parameter specifications enable straightforward manufacturing while achieving effective drift control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high concentrations of drift control agents are used to maximize drift reduction, then spray drift is minimized, but phytotoxic effects on crops increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration of the alkoxylate drift control agent within specific ranges to achieve effective drift control while maintaining safety for crop plants. This parameter optimization balances drift reduction with minimal phytotoxicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a biodegradable alkoxylate drift control agent that performs its function during application and then degrades, minimizing residual phytotoxic effects. This approach allows effective drift control without long-term harmful impacts on crops.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces spray drift fines and off-target movement of pesticides, maintaining their activity and reducing toxicity, with improved handling characteristics and lower phytotoxic effects, allowing for efficient control of vegetation without harming crops.
Implementation Method 1
enhance adhesion and penetration of pesticides
Implementation Method 2
fatty alcohol alkoxylate drift control agent... reduces spray drift fines
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aqueous composition comprising dicamba and a drift control agent; to a method for preparing a tank mix, which comprises the step of contacting water and said composition, and optionally further pesticides; to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or unde-sired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or the crop plants and/or their environment; and finally to a use of the alkoxylate of the formula (I) as defined below for reducing the wind drift of an aqueous composition comprising a pesticide.